Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
Secret Seas
Summary
Secret Seas is a 2019 FAILE screen print issued in an edition of approximately 250, at roughly 25 x 19.5 cm. The run contains about four variations, with multiple color treatments, hand-painting, and staining across impressions, printed on thick paper typically featuring at least one deckled edge. The reverse of each sheet is noted as distinctive.
Why It Matters
Secret Seas blurs the boundary between a straight edition and a varied one, with roughly four color variations and hand-worked staining meaning impressions differ meaningfully within the run. The emphasis on a special back and deckled edge reflects FAILE's attention to the print as a tactile, two-sided object rather than a flat reproduction.
Collector Perspective
Because Secret Seas exists in multiple color variations, collectors should identify which variation a given impression represents and inspect the hand-painted staining and deckled edge. The noted distinctive reverse means the sheet rewards examination beyond its face, and variation identification is central to comparing examples.
Historical Context
FAILE's practice of issuing editions with internal color variations and hand-finishing draws on their collage sensibility, where repetition and difference coexist. Deckled edges and worked papers are consistent with the studio's fine-art print approach across this period, emphasizing craft over uniform reproduction.
FAQ
How many variations exist?
There are approximately four variations within the edition, differing in color, hand-painting, and staining across impressions.
What is notable about the paper?
It is a thick stock usually with at least one deckled edge, and the reverse of each sheet is described as distinctive.
Is the edition consistent?
No. Because of the multiple color variations and hand-work, impressions differ from one another within the run of roughly 250.
What size is Secret Seas?
Approximately 25 x 19.5 cm, a compact format compared with FAILE's large hand-finished sheets.
About the Artist
FAILE is a Brooklyn-based artistic collaboration founded in 1999 by Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller. Known for a distinctive collage aesthetic that blends comic-book imagery, pulp advertising, religious iconography, and street-poster typography, FAILE built its reputation through wheat-pasted works and stencils in cities worldwide. The duo is celebrated for reviving printmaking and woodblock techniques, and for immersive installations such as their prayer-wheel and temple environments. Their work has been exhibited internationally, including projects with the New York City Ballet, bridging street practice and fine-art institutions.
Collecting Faile at Gauntlet Gallery
Which FAILE works are best to collect?
FAILE's signed, numbered silkscreen editions and their hand-finished wood and mixed-media pieces are the core of the market. Screenprints from their studio releases offer an accessible entry, while unique wooden "blocks" and painted works sit at the higher end. Gauntlet Gallery focuses on complete, well-preserved impressions with strong color registration.
How is a FAILE piece authenticated?
We sell FAILE works with documented studio provenance, backed by the edition's signature and numbering. Every piece is photographed as-is, including the signature, edition number, and any studio markings, so you can confirm details before purchase.
What makes one FAILE piece worth more?
Edition size, medium (unique wood pieces over open prints), iconic imagery, condition, and provenance from a known release all drive value. Hand-embellished and one-of-a-kind works consistently outperform standard editioned prints.